# Text

Text messages contain only a text body and an optional link preview.

![](https://3527970750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4sMxKjL6eJRvZn6jeG-887967055%2Fuploads%2F9ydHP5rwfN0H9lOtR400%2Ftext.png?alt=media\&token=03d4ca42-c302-4d97-be53-ffcd147d3dcb)

### Text Message Request

Use the messages endpoint to send a text message to a WhatsApp user.

<mark style="color:orange;">`POST`</mark> `https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/messages`

**Headers**

| Name          | Value              |
| ------------- | ------------------ |
| Content-Type  | `application/json` |
| Authorization | `D360-API-KEY`     |

**Body Example**

```json
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>",
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "preview_url": <ENABLE_LINK_PREVIEW>,
    "body": "<BODY_TEXT>"
  }
}
```

**Response**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="200" %}

```json
{
  "contacts": [
    {
      "input": "text",
      "wa_id": "text"
    }
  ],
  "messages": [
    {
      "id": "text",
      "message_status": "accepted"
    }
  ],
  "messaging_product": "text"
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="400" %}

```json
{
  "error": "Invalid request"
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### Link preview

The WhatsApp client can attempt to generate a preview for the first URL in the message body, provided it begins with `http://` or `https://`. If multiple URLs are included, only the first will be rendered as a preview. If omitted or if a preview cannot be retrieved, the URL will be displayed as a clickable link instead.

### Formatting in Text Messages <a href="#formatting" id="formatting"></a>

WhatsApp allows some formatting in messages. To format all or part of a message, use these formatting symbols:

| Formatting         | Symbol                   | Example                          |
| ------------------ | ------------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| **Bold**           | Asterisk (\*)            | Your total is \*$10.50\*.        |
| *Italics*          | Underscore (\_)          | Welcome to \_WhatsApp\_!         |
| ~~Strike-through~~ | Tilde (\~)               | This is \~better\~ best!         |
| `Code`             | Three backticks (\`\`\`) | \`\`\`print 'Hello World';\`\`\` |


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.360dialog.com/docs/messaging/message-types/text.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.